Europa League defeat is tough to take for Connah's Quay Nomads boss Andy Morrison

Goals from Max Ebong, Elis Bakaj and Mikhail Shibun left Soligorsk in complete control of the first qualifying round tie before a late penalty from Callum Morris gave Nomads something to celebrate.

Boss Morrison was wondering how his side had lost by such a margin with Nomads proving more than a match for their Belarusian visitors.

"It's such a harsh result," said Morrison. "If we come away from that game with a 1-1 draw we are disappointed because they've had four shots and scored three goals.

"We were never in any danger, we weren't overrun, they didn't create overloads, they didn't dominate areas of the pitch and it wasn't relentless pressure.

"We've played Vojvodina and Helsinki away and I know what it feels like to be dominated in a game and this team didn't dominate us.

"We were more than a match for them, but those key moments in the game - which come from this time of year and them being a little bit brighter and sharper - punished us.

"They are a good outfit. They've been to BATE Borisov and drawn 0-0 and they've beaten Dinamo Minsk, they are a proper football team."

Morrison believes Morris' penalty was the least Nomads deserved for their night's work at Belle Vue.

He continued: "It gives you a glimmer of hope and puts a fairer reflection on what went on.

"To come away with a 3-0 defeat would have been just wrong because of what we got right.

"The 3-1 puts a better slant on things, and a fairer one, because four shots and three goals is hard to stomach."

The former Manchester City captain does acknowledge that Soligorsk are one of the best sides his team have come up against in European competition.

"I think Vojvodina are better than these, but I think this is the best team we've played in Europe," he said. "They are so disciplined in their recovery runs and the shape they get back into, and then they counter with pace.

"The result doesn't reflect the performance and I don't often say that.

"I don't often find myself in that position, but this is European football and this is a very good team."

Morrison will rally his troops for the second leg, which takes place in Soligorsk on Thursday evening.

Nomads will need to score three goals to reach the second qualifying round, but Morrison is not about the throw in the towel.

Asked whether the need for goals would change his game plan later this week, Morrison said: "We will go exactly the same. If something drops for us early on and we get our noses in-front then anything can happen from there.

"It's a mountain to climb and it will take a miracle to go there and beat them 3-0 but these things have happened."

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